MOBILE, Alabama – One year after the Mobile City Council cut performance
contracts by 10 percent, the organizers of BayFest want an increase.

They claim the annual three-day October music festival in
downtown Mobile deserves it by the economic impact it generates for the region.
A study, released Tuesday, showed that up to $42 million is generated for the
area each year.

Last year, the City Council gave $243,000 for BayFest, which
is a cut from year's past. The event once got $275,000.

Mobile County gave an extra $200,000.

For the city, the study showed that about $730,000 was
generate in extra revenue back into the city's coffers. The study, however, did
not account for public service expenses associated with the event – police overtime,
public works, etc.

Bobby Bostwick, the event's board chairman, requested
$350,000 and a multi-year contract for the event. Right now, BayFest operates
on a year-to-year basis with the city, although private sponsors do sign
multi-year agreements.